Cash register



1945 J. J. KLOSTERMAN 2,333,063

CASH REGISTER Original Filed Sept. 30, 1940 Joseph j. Klostcrmnn, Decd By Mary Klostcrman,

Exccutrix Inventor His Attorney Patented Oct. 30, 1945 CASH REGISTER Joseph :I. Klosterman, deceased, late of Dayton, Ohio, -by Mary Klosternian, executrix, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Original application September 30, 1940, Serial No. 359,047. Divided and this application May 23, 1942, Serial No. 444,223

3 Claims.

This invention relates to printing mechanism for cash registers and like n'iachines, and more particularly to control means therefor, and is a division of the application ior Letters Patent of the United States Serial No. 359,047, filed by Joseph J. Klosterman, on September 30, 1940, which issued into Patent No. 2,342,082 on February 15, 1 944.

The invention is disclosed as embodied in the key operated type of machine suc'h as that shown in United States Letters Patent No. 2,279,805,

granted April 14, 1942, to-Frank-R. Werner, and in the application of Daniel'K. Hughes for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 273,231, filed May 12, 1939, which issued into Patent No. 2,338,942 on January 11, 1944.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel means toconnectand disconnect the printer unit driving means with and from the main operating means of the machine.

Another object is to provide a plurality of manipulative devices to control said connecting and disconnecting of the printer driving means with and from the main operating means.

A further object is to provide a novel locking means intermediate said manipulative means.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In said drawing: 7

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of the left side of the receipt printer unit, showing the driving means and the disabling means for the drivmg means. V

Fig. 2 is a detail, partly in section, of the paper feed drive shaft and the means for controlling its movement.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the locking mechanism for the paper feed drive shaft.

Fig. ;4 is a front view, partly in section, of the pa er feeding mechanism.

Fig. 5 shows the means to control the locking means for the connecting means between the main drive and the printer drive. i

Fig. 6 is a detail of the hammer operating mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail of the paper compression or feed rolls.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Described in general terms, this divisional apshown in Figs. 1 and 6.

plication deals with a printing mechanism which prints and issues receipts or checks to be given to customers with purchases of goods.

However, in some instances, it is desirable that a check be not issued, such as when Read and/or Reset operations are performed, and, to accomplish this result, there is provided means to disconnect the printing mechanism, including the impression means and the feeding means, from the main operating mechanism.

Such controlling means includes a manually operable member by means of which the printer driving means may be entirely disconnected from the main drivin means.

A second manually operable device, however, is provided to determine when said manually operable member can be operated to effect its control of the printer driving means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Printer frame As has been fully illustrated and described in the parent application, the printer is built in a unit so that it may be bodily removed from the machine. HoweverQin this divisional application, the manner of mounting this printing mechan-ism is not shown, as it has not been thought necessary for this application.

The printing mechanism dealt with in the present divisional application is supported by a left printer plate 50 and a right printer plate Bl (Figs. 1, 4, and 6), which are supported by rods 22 and 64 (Fig. 1) carried by the machine side frames (not shown in this divisional application).

Type wheels The parent application illustrates and describes three amount type wheels, one transaction type wheel, and one clerks type wheel for printing upon the issuing check. However, in the present divisional application, only one type wheel is It is the units type wheel '69. This type wheel 69 is carried on shaft '68, supported by plates and 61, and it is differentially set under control of the 5 key and the 10 to keys of the parent application. In the home position, this weel 69 presents a zero to the printing line and a 5 when the 5 key is depressed. When a key in the 10 to 90 group ending in zero is depressed, the wheel 69 again presents a zero to the printing line, but when a key in the 10 to 90 group ending in 5 is depressed, then the wheel 69, through means illustrated and described in the parent case, presents a 5 to the printing line.

7 rolls.

Paper feed mechanism Referring to Fig. 1, a paper roll I30 rests on a curved plate I3I, the rear end of which is turned over a rod I 32 supported between the printer plates 60 and BI. The front end of the plate I3I has claws I33, only one being shown, which grip a rod I34 supported by the plates 60 and 6I. The front of the plate I3I is formed into a paper chute I35, through which a paper strip I36 (led from the roll I30'is carried over the type wheels and between the paper feed rolls I31 (Fig. 4) and the compression rolls I38. The compression rolls are rotatably supported by a shaft I39 (Figs. 1 and 7) flexibly supported between two stationary claws I40 (only one of which is shown) and an opposed resiliently mounted claw I4I between the two claws I40.

The claws I40 (Fig. 7) are secured to a yoke I42 carried by the arms I43 (only one of which is shown), which are pivotally mounted on the rod I34 so that the yoke and the compression rolls may be moved towards and away from the paper strip I36. The resiliently mounted claw I4I has a tongue I45 slidably mounted in a hole in a cover plate I46 attached to the yoke I42. A spring I41 holds the claw I4I against the shaft I39, which in turn is held against the claws I40. If the compression rolls are moved toward the paper while rocking the yoke, they resiliently meet the paper strip I36 and hold it against the feed rolls I31.

An arm I48 (Fig. 1) is pivotally mounted on one arm of the yoke I42 and has a finger piece I49 and a locking arm I50. This arm I50 has arcuate surfaces II and I52 adapted to engage a stud I53 carried by the printer plate BI. The surface I5I locks the yoke I42 in closed position, and, as shown by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, the surface I52 locks the yoke I42 in open position for the free insertion of the leading end of the paper roll between the feed rolls I31 and the compression rolls I38. Fastened to the plate I46 is a serrated tear-off knife I58.

In Fig. 6 is shown a printing platen I54 for cooperating with the type wheel 69. This platen is carried as a yoke by the arms I55 and I60 rotatably mounted on the rod I34.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the paper feed rolls I31'are pinned to the shaft I51 journaled in bushings I6I and I62 secured in the printer plates 60 and 6 I. Fastened to the shaft I51 is a ratchet I63, which cooperates with a pawl I64 pivoted on a stud I65 projecting from the printer plate 60 and resiliently held by a spring I86 against the ratchet I63 to prevent counter-clockwise movement of the shaft I 51. A second pawl I 61, pivotally mounted on the main drive shaft SI of the printer, cooperates with the ratchet I63 to prevent clockwise movementof the shaft I51. The spring I 66, being connected to the pawl I61, holds this pawl resiliently against the ratchet I63, but it is arranged so that the pawl I61 is pushed away to an ineffective position by a stud I68 (Fig. 1) carried by a driving segment I69 for the feed This driving segment I69 is secured to the main'drive shaft 9|, and, as the latter is rocked clockwise, the stud I68 rocks the pawl I61 (Fig. 3) clockwise as the segment I69 nears the end of the clockwise movement during the first half of the machine operation, as will be described hereinafter, thus releasing the pawl I61 from the ratchet I63 and freeing the shaft I51 for movement. The drive segment I69 receives movement from a link I pivoted thereto, which is given movement to the right (Fig. 1) as a key coupler I1I is raised by depression of any key. The coupler MI is lowered to the position shown during the second half-operation of the machine, thus moving the drive segment I69 counter-clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 1.

The movement of the key coupler IN is transmitted to the link I10 by means of a plate I12 pivoted on a shaft I13 through the medium of a stud I14, to which the link I10 is hooked. A pinion I 15 loosely mounted on the shaft I51 is therefore driven first counter-clockwise and then clockwise as the driving segment I69 makes its oscillatory movement.

On its counter-clockwise movement, the pinion I15 rotates free of the shaft I51, but, on the clockwise movement thereof, a pawl I18 (Fig. 2), pivoted on a plate I integral with the pinion I15, engages an opening in a rim I 11 of a flanged plate I18 secured to the shaft I51, thereby rotating the shaft I51 clockwise and carrying the paper stri I36 forwardly, or to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. This forward movement of the paper strip occurs after mid-cycle, at which point the printing impression is made.

By the above ratchet-and-pawl construction, this feed mechanism is unidirectional, prevents retrograde motion of the paper strip, and determines the exact amount of paper advance on each machine operation.

Disabling mechanism for the main drive to the printer The means for disabling the connecting or operating means between the main driving means and the printer driving means, whereby the paper feeding mechanism and the hammer operating mechanism may be rendered ineffective for certain kinds of operations, will now be described.

A link I10 (Fig. 1) forms a connection between the main operating means, which includes the coupler HI and the operating plate I12, and the driving means or segment I69 for operating the printer, including the paper feeding and hammer operating mechanism. The link I18 is pivoted to the segment I69 and. the forward end thereof is hooked over the stud I14 on the main driving plate I12, so that it may be disconnected therefrom for certain types of operations.

This link I10 has a slot I8I, which accommodates a stud I82 on one arm of a bell crank I83 pivotally mounted on the main drive shaft 9|. The other arm of the bell crank I 83 carries a stud I84, which projects into a cam slot I85 of a link I86 slidably mounted by means of slots I81 and I88 on the. shaft 9| and a shaft II3, respectively. V

With the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the. link I10 is positively connected to the main driving member I12. However, when it is desired to disable the printing mechanism, including the paper feed and impression means, the link I86 is moved rearwardly, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1,-whereuponthe cam slot I85, through the stud I84, rocks the bell crank I83 clockwise, causing the stud I82 to rock the link I10 clockwise and disengage. its hook from the stud I14. Movement of this link I86 to the left, however, is normally blocked by means of the stud I9I contacting an unbroken portion of the flange on a wheel I 89, which is secured to the shaft II3.

This wheel I89 is cut away, as shown at the broken portion I90, and the flange thereof is also cut away, and consequently, when this broken portion I90 of'the flanged wheel I89 is presented opposite the stud "I91, the link I 86 *may be moved to *the left to disconnect the 'link IIO from the stud I14 todisablethe printing mechanism.

The means for moving the whee-l I8 9 to present :the broken-away'portion 190 to thestud I9-I "con- :sists of a manually operable lever II' I (Fig. 5) pivoted on a stud H5. This lever -I I4 is provided with teeth meshing with a pinion I l"! securedto the shaft I I3.

With the lever I I4 in the position shown in Fig. 5, the wheel isin the'position shownin-Fig. l, but when the lever IM is rocked counter-clockwise into the read positionv or the freset posi 'tion indicated in Fig. '5, the shaft H3 is rotated counter-clockwise to position the broken portion I 90 of the wheel I89 opposite the stud I91, so that the link I86 may be moved to the left "to disconnect the link I from the driving member I:I2.

'The means formoving the link I86 to the left as described above includes an on and off manipulativedisk I92 '(Fig. 1 which is secured to the shaft I 2'2. Also secured to the shaft 122 is an arm I93 carrying a stud I23 projecting in a slot I24 in the link I86.

The manipulative disk I92 is shown in the on position, but, when this link is moved manually in a clockwise direction, the arm I93 and the stud I23 move the link I86 to the left to disconnect the paper feed mechanism and the impression mechanism from the key coupler Ill and the operating plate I12.

Therefore, during "read or reset operations, the paper feeding mechanism and the impression mechanism ma be rendered inoperable if desired.

If the lever H4 is moved back to the position shown in Fig. 5 after the link I86 has been moved to the left, then the inner periphery of the flange of the wheel I89 will encircle the stud I9I and lock the link I86 in the left-hand or "off position, whereby the paper feeding means and the impression means will not be operated during adding or item-entering operations.

The control lever H4 has a key lock 3I9 (Fig. 5) on its forwardly projecting arm to lock it in one of five positions indicated b 'chain lines in The means for driving the hammer or impression means from the driving segment I 99 will now be described.

As this segment I59 is driven first clockwise and then counter-clockwise (Figs. 1 and 6), its motion is transmitted by the link 2 M to the lever 2I5 pivoted on the rod I34. A trigger lever H6 is pivoted to the top of the lever 255 by a stud 220 carried by a lever 2I9, and is normally held by a spring 2H against a set screw 2E8 mounted in said lever 2I9. An arm 22I of the lever 2I9 carries the stud 222, which projects into a cam slot 223 in a link 224 pivoted'to the lever M5 by a stud 225 at one end and pivoted at the other end to a stud 225 on a lever 22?, which is pivotally mounted on a stud 228 in the printer frame 69.

The cam slot 223- is so shaped that, as the lever 2I5 is rocked counter-clockwise, the lever 2I9 and the lever 2Ifi. are rocked slightly counterclockwise relatively to the lever 2I5. The hammer yoke arms I55 and I69, the lever EIS, and a hammer driving lever 23'! are all mounted on the rod I34. As the lever 2I5 is rocked counterclockwise, a rearwardly extending arm of the arm 230 of the trigger lever 2I6 engages a flange 229 of the lever 23 I which flange lies'in a notch 231 of the :hammer arm I60 and forces theplaten I54 to rock counter-clockwise around the rod I34 against the increased tension of a spring 232 fastened to a stud 233 on the lever 221 and to a stud 234 on a pivoted lever 235 at its other end.

-A spring 2.35 holds the printer hammer arm 1-60 against the flange 229 of the lever 23? until theinertia of the printing movement of the hammer on its -release, after being cocked, overcomes the strength of the spring 236, whereupon the hammer is allowed to overthrow a sufficient amount to strike the paper to take an impression from the type wheel.

Now,'to continue with the cooking of the printing hammer as the printer lever '2 I6 moves relatively to the lever 2I5 due to the action of the cam slot 223', ashoulder 238 of the trigger lever Z IT slips off the flange 229, and the spring 232 rocks the hammer forcefully in a clockwise direction, which movement continues until the end of the overthrow; as explained above.

Operation Since the operations of the mechanism involved in this divisional application have been described in detail, it is not thought necessary to describe the operation of the mechanism further. However, from the above description, it can be very clearly seen that, through the operation of the manipulative device, the main drivin mechanism may be disconnected from the printing means, whereby the paper feeding mechanism and the hammer operating means will not function, and that such operations can be controlled through the medium of a second manually operable device which, when set in certain positions, prohibits the operation of the first mentioned manipulative means, which directly controls the printing means by disconnecting its drive from the main drive.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described capable of adding and total printing operations and having impression means, feeding means, an operating member for both of said means, main operating means, and a coupling link to normally couple the operating member to the main operating means, the combination of manipulative means operable to disconnect the couplin link from the main operating means; a device normally blocking movement of the manipulative means: a manually movable control means to control certain elements of the machine for adding and total printing operations; and connections between said manually operable control means and the device whereby said control means adjusts the device out of blocking position, when the control means is moved to a' total printing position, to release the manipulative means wherebythe manipulative means may be manipulated only when the control means is in total printing position.

2. In a machine of the class described capable of adding and total printing operations and having impression means, feeding means, an operating member for-both of said means, main operating means, and a coupling link to normally couple the operating member to the main operating means, the combination of manipulative means operable to disconnect the couplin link from the main operating means; a device normally blocking movement of the manipulative means; a total printing control lever to condition certain elements of the machine for printing totals; a key lock for the total control lever; and

means operated by the total control lever to move the blocking device out of normal blocking position to release the manipulative means, so that an authorized operator may unlock the total control lever to release the manipulative means and thereafter move the manipulative means to disconnect the link from the main operating means.

3. In a machine of the class described capable of adding and total printing operations and having impression means, feeding means, an operating member for both of said means main operating means, and a coupling link to normally couple the operating member'to the main operating means, the combination of a manipulative device; an element having a, cam means therein and connected to the manipulative device for movement therewith; a lever coacting with the cam means and the link whereby the link is moved to be disconnected from the main operating means to disable the impression means and the feeding means; a notched disk normally in position to prevent movement of the element to normally prevent disabling of the impression means and the feeding means; and a total control lever having a normal position and a total control position operatively connected to the notched disk to move the notched disk into a position to release the element upon movement of the total control lever out of the normal position into a total control position, whereby the manipulative device may be manipulated to move said cam means and thereby move said link out of said normal coupling position to uncouple the impression means and the feeding means from the main operating means, only when the total control lever is in said total control position.

MARY KLOSTERMAN, Emeeutria: of the Estate of Joseph J. Kloster'man,

Deceased. 

